©picture alliance / NurPhoto | Allison Bailey
The so-called “Reflecting Pool” was supposed to become Donald Trump’s new showpiece in Washington—a symbol of patriotism and national unity. But instead, it has already been the subject of much negative press. The conflict has now escalated to the point that the U.S. president is taking an Olympic athlete to court.
Former U.S. canoeist David Hearn has been officially charged with damaging the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. The 67-year-old man made headlines on Thursday after District Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced that a grand jury had indicted him for destroying government property.
According to Pirro, this was a deliberate act. Hearn allegedly pulled on the newly installed lining of the water basin with both hands, causing damage to an area of approximately two square feet. The former Olympian himself denies having broken anything. He says he merely touched a piece of material that was coming loose out of curiosity.
10 years in prison?
The Reflecting Pool on the National Mall had recently been renovated, a project that cost millions of dollars. Yet complaints soon arose about peeling paint and green algae buildup. President Donald Trump had previously pointed to vandalism as the cause of the damage. The case has since led to more arrests. According to U.S. media, several people have already been detained in connection with the vandalism at the pool, but not all of them have been publicly identified. Hearn, who represented the United States three times at the Olympic Games, faces up to ten years in prison if convicted.
©picture alliance / NurPhoto | Allison Bailey